The circle around the genes that regulate height is tightening: attention is now focused on those that influence the maturation of cartilage cells in the so-called growth plates, located near the ends of the bones. The result is published in the journal Cell Genomics by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University.
The study examined 600 million mouse cartilage cells to identify genes that, when knocked out, alter the growth and maturation of these cartilage cells. Similar cellular modifications are in fact known for their link with variations in height in humans. The analyzes highlighted 145 genes, mostly related to skeletal disorders, crucial for growth plate maturation and bone formation.
These genes were compared with information from whole human genome studies that evaluated the association between height and genetic variants. These studies help identify hot spots where height genes are located, but as these regions can contain many genes, the search is far from simple. “It’s like looking for a friend’s house by knowing only the zip code,” explains study coordinator Nora Renthal.
The comparison with the genes that alter cellular function in growth plates has allowed us to locate with greater precision in our DNA those genes that could affect height: many of them seem to determine an early maturation of cartilage cells, a discovery which, if confirmed, it could have clinical implications.
“I see patients with skeletal dysplasia for which there is no treatment, as it is genetics that make their bones grow like this,” Renthal says. “My hope is that the more we understand the biology of growth plates, the more we will be able to intervene early in the growing skeleton and in a child’s life.”
Source: Ansa
I am a journalist with over 6 years of experience working in the news industry. I currently work as an author for Global Happenings, and my coverage focuses on Technology news. I have written for various publications, including Reuters, The New York Times and The Guardian.
